San Juan

Last update: none. Trails are rough but o.k.





Leave your car at the parking in front of the plantation house San Juan and start your hike from there to the South Coast. You need to pay a small entrance fee. San Juan has three bocas or beaches, so you have a choice of trails and you can take a rest to swim.
There are a lot of Manzanilla trees and by now you should know how dangerous they are. Don't touch the leaves, don't eat the apples!

Dolfins!

The trails to the bocas are not hard. But if there is no breeze it can be pretty hot. Especially when you go up hill.

Playa Hundu

Last update: No updates, the asphalt road should be o.k. and the sandy trails may be muddy after heavy rainfall.

Trailhead: Park at the road side at Plantation House Groot Santa Martha.

On foot follow the road a bit further down. There is a left turn and a right turn. In between, at your left hand side, is the road to Playa Hundu.
There is a little sign on the wall at the beginning of the road to Playa Hundu.

The road becomes a sand road that l eads toPlaya Hundu.


To Boca Sal:

After a while you'll see a sandy trail (at your left hand side) that leads to another Playa: Boca Sal.
This is an easy hike. The Playa is beautiful. Please don't disturb the birds!

See for trail maps: Trail Maps - Wandelkaarten

Pannekoek

Last update:
Recent hike, Oct. 2011. Photos by Germen Kroeger. See: Great hike at Pannekoek
In Dutch-Nederlands: http://hikingcuracaotrails.blogspot.com/2012/08/het-marijke-pad.html

 

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Trailhead. You have to look for it!!

Trailhead is on the side of the road that turns left from the main road to Knip and Westpunt, opposite Plantation House Pannekoek. (you can visit the butterflyfarm there).

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Once you reach the end of the trail, you are coming down hill, you can turn left to the main road, or you can turn right to Boca Sal. It is a small boca where many birds find a place to rest and to nest. Please be quite!

Jan Kok

 Pelican

 Light tower Rif Sint Marie

Saltpans of Jan Kok - View of church of Willibrordus

Looking back to Jan Kok

The Pipe!

Ruin of Rif Sint Marie

Trail along the Saltpans

Jan Kok Plantation House

The Jan Kok laguna (with salt pans) is famous for its flamingos. You can see the birds from the main road. In the wet season (that can be any time, but mostly from November till January) the trail may be muddy and slippery.
We do all trails in the evening. It gets cooler along the way and the setting sun guaranties beautiful pictures.
Guess what! Walking along the salt pans makes you very thirsty. Bring at least one liter of drinking water! (You always have to bring a sufficient suply of water of course)

At Plantation house Jan Kok you can have snacks and drinks. Open from 10 am - 6 pm. Closed on Mondays.

Trail along Bullenbaai

Bullenbaai

Bullenbaai

Trail Tip1: Walk around the laguna. To keep the sun out of your eyes, better start at the South end. You find it in Willibrordus, at the left side of the road, just after passing the Richenel bar (closed).
(Ask locals for the right starting point) You 'll see the ruined plantation house Rif Sint Mari, you'll do part of the trail on the West side of Bullenbaai. Turn left after balancing over a big pipe that covers the outlet of the laguna. Follow the trail to the main road, where you will end up in the little restaurant-bar for a cool local beer! (You were on your feet for about two and a half hours). Walk back (at the left side of the road) to your car that you left at the roadside near the plantation house Jan Kok. It will be dark by then...be careful and watch for cars without proper headlights and free roaming donkeys.

Trail Tip2: You can include a walk to Bullenbaai, and back.
Trail Tip3: Go on from the Bullenbaai (going North) and find the new trail, that our hiking club made, to plantation house Hermanus. You will probably get lost and have to push yourself through thorny bushes, but somehow you'll manage to get to the main road. It is fun! It is a while to get back to your car. It will be pitch dark by then. Always bring a pocket light!

Groot Sint Michiel

Groot Sint Michiel is private property. The trails are used for horse riding. They are open to hikers on Suday afternoons. Please ask permission before you go there!

The trails are wide and easy, through a hilly country. Here and there you have a very nice view. It can be very dry, it can be very wet...
Start your walk at the entrance of the plantation house. You can park there.

See for trail maps: Trail Maps - Wandelkaarten